Eighteen people Central California have been arrested in an international child pornography investigation, federal and state officials said Thursday.

The Fresno area saw the highest number of arrests in any region nationwide, with 14 people arrested here, Mike Prado with Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations said at a news conference.

Three local children, including a disabled 7-year-old girl, also were rescued as a result of the operation, Prado said.

Eleven of the 18 defendants face federal felony charges. Another defendant, currently in state custody, has been charged in a federal criminal complaint. Seven others are facing state charges.

Charges include possession, distribution and production of child pornography.

In total, the investigation led to the arrest of 245 people throughout the U.S and the rescue of 44 victims who were living with their accused abusers, ICE Homeland Security Investigations officials said. The victims ranged in age from several months to 17 years old.

In addition, agents identified 79 other victims who were abused as children and are now adults.

Investigators said the Internet has made it easier than ever to engage in child pornography - and the harm to victims is permanent.

"Child pornography is a crime in progress," Prado said. "Each time those images are viewed, the child is victimized again and again and again. Because of the nature of the Internet, these images remain online forever and can never be taken back."

The arrests were made over five weeks starting Nov. 1.

Among those arrested in the Fresno area was 26-year-old Bradley Vaine, a convicted sex offender. Vaine was arrested Nov. 6 on federal charges of distribution and possession of child pornography. A 7-year-old mentally disabled girl who could not speak was rescued from his home, Prado said. The girl had been abused by Vaine for an extended period, he said.

According to court records, Vaine was in federal custody and has not entered a plea. His attorney, Victor Chavez, did not respond to a request for comment.

The other two local children who were rescued were preteens, Prado said. Officials did not make any other details available about their cases.

The defendants were not charged with the molestation, federal officials say, because it's hard to prosecute them and difficult to have the children testify. But they face long sentences with pornography charges. Vaine could face up to 20 years for each count.

Another person arrested in the investigation was Samuel Gueydan, 48, of Clovis, federal investigators said. He was charged in a federal indictment with receiving and distributing child pornography. A search of Gueydan's residence turned up more than 1 million still images and thousands of videos of minors in sexually explicit situations, authorities said. Gueydan has been ordered to remain under home confinement with supervision pending trial.

Also arrested was Albert Lee Mitchell, 65, of Sacramento. More than 40,000 images of child pornography were found on his computer. According to the federal complaint, Mitchell had been planning to depart the next day for Argentina, where he owns property. Children's clothing and toys were found in his luggage. Mitchell was charged in a federal indictment returned on Nov. 15, and was ordered detained pending trial.

The investigation, dubbed "Operation Sunflower," was part of ICE's effort to find and rescue victims, and to arrest abusers and people who make or transmit child pornography.